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26
18
7
1
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: DRUG ADDRESS
BENNETT SWEARING-IN
MARCH 13, 1989
BILL, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET, HONORED GUESTS, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS OF WELCOME, AND FOR THAT
GENEROUS RECEPTION. AND LET ME SAY WHAT AN HONOR IT IS
FOR ME TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
2
THERE IS NO GREATER TEST OF AMERICA'S GREATNESS THAN
ITS COMMITMENT TO MEET A GREAT CHALLENGE. WELL, TODAY WE
FACE A GREAT CHALLENGE.
As YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST COME FROM THE SWEARING-IN OF
THE MAN, WILLIAM BENNETT, WHO WILL LEAD THIS MISSION. MY
FRIENDS, HE WILL NEED YOUR HELP -- AND THE WILL AND SPIRIT
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- TO GUIDE IT TO COMPLETION.
LAST MONTH, BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS, I
SAID, "BILL BENNETT AND I WILL BE SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER
LEADING THIS CHARGE."
3
TODAY, HERE WE ARE TOGETHER -- [AND, YES,]
SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH YOU.
To FREE OUR NATION FROM DRUGS WILL REQUIRE TEAMWORK
-- COORDINATION -- BETWEEN ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT,
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, AND VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS.
IT WILL MEAN BUILDING ON YOUR LABORS AS ACTIVISTS,
OFFICIALS, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS. FOR WHILE YOU HAVE DONE
MUCH, THERE REMAINS so MUCH MORE TO DO.
BUT MOST OF ALL, IT WILL REQUIRE A SENSE OF URGENCY
-- TO ACT, AND NOW.
4
MY FRIENDS, DRUGS THREATEN WHAT WE ARE AS A NATION, AND AS
A FAMILY. THEY CHAIN THE HUMAN SOUL, AND DESTROY THE
LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.
I KNOW THAT YOU, AND BILL, SHARE THESE BELIEFS.
As SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, BILL BENNETT SHOWED WHAT
WORKED, AND TOLD US WHAT DIDN'T. HE CREATED A STUNNING
RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT. LIKE YOU, HE HAS BEEN A STRONG
VOICE FOR EXCELLENCE. AND NOW YOU MUST WORK TOGETHER:
BILL, AS THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL
POLICY; YOU, AS SOLDIERS IN THIS CRUSADE.
5
DRUG ABUSE ASSAULTS THE MIND AND THE SPIRIT OF
AMERICA -- LEAVING DAMAGED LIVES AND DESTROYED CAREERS.
WE WILL MOBILIZE OUR MORAL, SPIRITUAL, AND ECONOMIC
RESOURCES, TO FORCE A DECLINE IN DRUG TRAFFICKING AND DRUG
ABUSE.
WE WILL SEEK TO ENCOURAGE THE OVER 23 MILLION
AMERICANS, WHO LAST YEAR USED ILLEGAL DRUGS, TO GET CLEAN,
AND STAY CLEAN.
6
IN MY BUDGET SPEECH, I SPOKE ABOUT FOUR CRITICAL
AREAS: EDUCATION, TREATMENT, INTERDICTION, AND
ENFORCEMENT. AND I ASKED FOR AN INCREASE OF $1 BILLION IN
BUDGET OUTLAYS. IN 1990, WE ARE REQUESTING $6 BILLION IN
NEW FUNDING TO FIGHT THIS WAR.
SOME MONEY WILL BE USED TO EXPAND TREATMENT FOR THE
POOR, AND TO YOUNG MOTHERS. THIS WILL HELP MANY OF THE
INNOCENT VICTIMS OF DRUGS -- LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF BABIES
BORN ADDICTED, OR WITH AIDS, BECAUSE OF THE MOTHER'S
ADDICTION.
7
SOME MONEY WILL BE USED TO CUT THE WAITING TIME FOR
TREATMENT, AND TO HELP PREVENTION EFFORTS IN URBAN SCHOOLS
WHERE THE EMERGENCY IS GREATEST. AND MUCH OF IT WILL BE
USED TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS, HELPED BY THE COAST GUARD,
CUSTOMS SERVICE, THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE AND JUSTICE, AND
THE U.S. MILITARY.
To SPREAD THE WORD, AND, THUS, STEM DEMAND, WE WILL
NEED MORE MONEY FOR EDUCATION AND PREVENTION -- OUR
REQUEST TOTALS $1.1 BILLION. WE NEED TO EDUCATE, AND
INVOLVE, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
8
FINALLY, TO STOP DRUG CRIMINALS, WE WILL SUPPORT --
UNEQUIVOCALLY -- OUR DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS: LOCAL,
STATE, AND FEDERAL. You KNOW, I'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT
"ZERO TOLERANCE." WELL, "ZERO TOLERANCE" IS NOT A
CATCHWORD. IT MEANS, QUITE SIMPLY: IF YOU DO THE CRIME,
YOU WILL DO THE TIME.
OUR DRUG BUDGET PROPOSES $4.1 BILLION -- FULLY 70 PER
CENT OF THE ENTIRE DRUG BUDGET -- FOR LAW-ENFORCEMENT
PURPOSES. I WANT JUDGES WHO STRICTLY APPLY THE LAW TO
CONVICTED DRUG OFFENDERS.
9
AND SEVERE SENTENCES FOR DEALERS WHO HIRE KIDS TO SELL AND
CARRY DRUGS. I WANT A NEW OFFENSIVE AGAINST ORGANIZED
CRIME, AND ENHANCED DRUG PROSECUTION, DETECTION, AND
INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES. WE NEED INCREASED PRISON
SENTENCES FOR DRUG-RELATED CRIMES. AND THE DEATH PENALTY
FOR DRUG KINGPINS WHO ORDER AND THOSE WHO COMMIT
DRUG-RELATED MURDERS.
Now, LET ME SPEAK VERY FRANKLY ABOUT ANOTHER ASPECT
OF THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE.
10
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO
COMBAT DRUGS HAS BEEN HAMPERED, SOMETIMES SEVERELY, BY
INADEQUATE COOPERATION AND COORDINATION AMONG THE MANY
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE ANTI-DRUG ABUSE
EFFORT. THERE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLES OVER TURF AND BUDGETS,
AND TOO OFTEN PREOCCUPATION WITH PAROCHIAL INTERESTS.
WHILE THE SOLDIERS IN THE DRUG BATTLE HAVE BEEN RISKING
THEIR LIVES, TOO OFTEN BUREAUCRATIC CONFLICT IN WASHINGTON
HAS HOBBLED OUR NATIONAL EFFORT. THIS MUST END. No WAR
WAS EVER WON WITH TWO DOZEN GENERALS ACTING INDEPENDENTLY.
11
I HAVE CHOSEN BILL BENNETT TO BE THE COMMANDING
GENERAL IN THE DRUG WAR. IT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY --
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES HEADED BY THOSE
YOU SEE HERE WITH ME, AND OTHERS -- TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY
FOR THIS WAR. I CHARGE HIM WITH PUTTING ALL THE PARTS OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN HARNESS, PULLING TOGETHER IN A
LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE AGAINST A DEADLY ENEMY.
I WILL NOT TOLERATE AND THE COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD
BUREAUCRATIC INFIGHTING THAT FORCES US TO FIGHT THIS
BATTLE WITH ONE ARM TIED BEHIND OUR BACKS.
12
BILL BENNETT HAS MY TOTAL SUPPORT. I CALL UPON ALL OF THE
PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO GET BEHIND HIM IN CHARTING OUR
COURSE TOWARD VICTORY.
MY FRIENDS, WE MUST NOT WAVER IN OUR RESOLVE TO
OVERCOME DRUG ABUSE. WE WILL NEED FORTITUDE, PATIENCE,
COMPASSION AND THE SUPPORT OF ALL AMERICA. WITHOUT THE
PEOPLE, WE CAN DO NOTHING. WITH THE PEOPLE, WE CAN DO
GREAT THINGS.
THIS MORNING, THEN, I ASK YOU TO WORK WITH BILL
BENNETT, AND WITH BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, FAMILIES, AND
SCHOOLS.
13
I PLEDGE THE STEADFAST SUPPORT OF OUR ENTIRE
ADMINISTRATION. TOGETHER, WE WILL END THIS SCOURGE.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
###
(Smith)
March 7, 1989
Draft Three
3:00 p.m.
call Advance
Suggested Remarks
For President Bush
Drug Address
March 13, 1989
Bill, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for those words of welcome, and for that generous
reception. And let me say what an honor it is for me to be with
you this morning.
Richard Nixon
General de Gaulle once observed, "France is never her true
Real P.106 Peace
unless she is engaged in a great enterprise." Well, we,
too, are engaged in a great enterprise: to free America of the
scourge of drugs.
As you know, I've just come from the swearing-in of the man,
William Bennett, who will lead this mission. My friends, he will
need your help -- and the will and spirit of the American people
-- to guide it to completion.
That means teamwork -- coordination -- between all levels of
government, private enterprise, and voluntary organizations.
It means building on your labors as activists, officials,
and public servants. For while we have done much, there remains
so much left to do.
But most of all, it means a sense of urgency -- to act, and
?
now. My friends, drugs maim what we are as a nation, and as a
A should be, underlined?
2
family. They chain the human heart, and make a dead-end of
tomorrow.
I know that you and Bill, share these beliefs.
As Secretary of Education, Bill Bennett showed what worked,
knew what didn't, and had a stunning record of achievement. Like
you, he has been an apostle of excellence. And now you must work
Cear created
together: Bill, as the first Director of National Drug Control
buse earth 1988 Act -Drug
Policy; you, as soldiers in this crusade.
Drug abuse assaults the mind of America -- leaving damaged
lives and destroyed careers. Drug abuse assails the spirit of
America -- in 1987, nearly 5,000 deaths in all. Therefore, let
settes 67
us say to drugs: "You're history." How? By mobilizing our
resources --- fiscal, moral, and economic. And by waging
unconditional war.
This war will seek to educate all Americans in the inherent
Joint Congress Address
evils of drug abuse. And it must encourage the over 23 million
Americans who last year used illegal drugs to get clean, and stay
to
clean.
This war must ensure support -- increased support -- for
those tasked with stopping the flow of drugs into America. And,
yes, it will demand that we strictly enforce the drug laws.
Last month, before a joint session of Congress, I spoke
about these four decisive areas: education, treatment,
interdiction, and enforcement. And I asked for an increase of $1
billion in budget outlays -- to nearly $6 billion in 1990 -- to
Budget
Fact sheet
escalate our effort.
p.bb
Building A Better America
3
Some money will be used to expand treatment to the poor, and
to young mothers. This will help many of the innocent victims of
drugs -- like the thousands of babies born addicted, or with
AIDS, because of the mother's addiction.
BudgetFact p.b
Some will be used to cut the waiting time for treatment, and
to help urban schools where the emergency is greatest. And much
of it will be used to protect our borders, helped by the Customs
Service, the Departments of State and Justice, and the U.S.
Military.
To spread the word, and, thus, stem demand, we will need
more money for education -- our request totals $1.1 billion. We
PS BFS
need to educate, and involve, parents, teachers, and our
communities. For then, and only then, can we teach our children,
from kindergarten to college, about the appalling cost of drugs.
Finally, to crush drug criminals, we will support --
unequivocally -- our drug enforcement officials: local, State,
A
and Federal. You know, I've talked a lot about "Zero Tolerance
Better dingrica
p.ns Buiding
Well, "Zero Tolerance" is not a catchword. It means, quite
6 billion Drug
simply: If you do crime, you do time.
Our drug budget proposes $4.1 billion -- fully 70 per cent
Budget outlays=
Better Building P.67 America
the entire budget -- for law-enforcement purposes. I want
Dave Rivat
judges who strictly apply the law to convicted drug offenders.
BABA
And severe sentences for dealers who hire kids to sell and carry
18BABA
drugs. I want a new offensive against organized crime, and
, 75 BABA
enhanced drug prosecution, detection, and intelligence
capabilities. We need increased prison sentences for
Fact
P.6
Sheet
Anti-Drug Abuse of 1988
75 Building
drug-related crimes. And the death penalty for drug kingpins and
ABettes 2. America
those who commit drug-related murders.
All this, we can and must achieve. And as we do, it will
help America remain true to her history, and to her highest
ideals. For American history is not passive. It is ongoing; it
lives; it must be constantly renewed. We must act to preserve
it, and to celebrate its values.
4 late 1600's
Three hundred years ago, writing the 17th-Century history of
the Plymouth Colony, William Bradford spoke of desperate, the courage which
sustained the Pilgrims:
but
not
The Great
"It was granted the dangers were great, the difficulties
and them,
Puotations
were many, but all through the help of God, by fortitude and
George
patience, might either be borne or overcome."
P.109
My friends, to overcome drug abuse, we will need fortitude,
patience, and the support of all America. For without the
people, we can do nothing. With the people, we can do
everything.
This morning, then, I ask you to work together, with Bill
Bennett, and with business, churches, families, schools. "A
great enterprise," yes. So, let us fulfill it. Our dream is a
drug-free America. Let us make that dream a reality.
Thank you for inviting me -- thank you very much. God bless
you all, and God bless the United States of America.
but not invincible. For though ### these were many of them
likelu, yet they were not certain; it might be sundry of
the things feared might never befall, others by provident
care and the use of Good means. might in great measure be prevented;
Suggested Talking Points
For President Bush
Bennett Swearing-In
March 8, 1989
Bartlett's
-Edmund Burke once observed, "The only thing necessary for
Thoughts 10.374
the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
of
--William Bennett is a good man, and he does not intend to
on do
nothing.
--He is a scholar, former Secretary of Education, and
Discontants 1523-70
apostle of excellence. And he knows that drug abuse is an evil
which impairs this Nation.
Drugs warp self-reliance, assault self-discipline, and can
destroy the will to live. They mock our unity as a people, and
our highest ideals.
--As Director of National Drug Control Policy, Bill Bennett
will uphold those ideals. So will his crusade.
-Through education, treatment enforcement, and
interdiction, we will focus on the 32 million Americans who used
illegal drugs last year And we will protect the more than 200
million Americans who didn't, and do not intend to.
--Bill, you have my support, and the prayers of the American
people. Our war is unconditional: We will wage it on every front.
And, now, it is my great pleasure to swear you in as America's
first Drug Czar.
240 millions Americans
23 million Americans
- 23 did drugs
used illegal drugs
210
last year."
1985 study
per: Steph
From Address to Congress
2-9-89
Approved for Address by
Iasin WH Drug Control
Policy office
Jacques Bénigne Bossuet-Samuel Bowles
William Lisle Bowles-Berton Braley
ve already seen that all power
Claude G. Bowers
m God.
Princes act then as
William Lisle Bowles
(1878-1957)
of God, and his lieutenants on
(1762-1850)
Omar N. Bradley
American journalist, author, diplomat
S by them that he rules his em-
English poet, critic, cleric
(b. 1893)
The royal throne is not the throne
We can at least refuse to join in the plan to
American general
but the throne of God himself.
suppress, distort, and mutilate the history of
The cause of freedom is the cause of God.
Ibid.
these days (1936-9; the war in Spain). His-
We have grasped the mystery of
atom and rejected the Sermon on
tory is the torch that is meant to illuminate
son of kings is sacred,
to
make
the past to guard us against the repetition
William Bradford
Mount. Address, Armistice Day, 194
t on their lives is a sacrilege. God
of our mistakes of other days. We cannot
(1590-1657)
m to be anointed by his prophets
With the monstrous weapons man alre
join in the rewriting of history to make it
American colonial governor
cred unction, in the same way
has, humanity is in danger of being trap
conform to our comfort and convenience.
uses pontiffs and his ministry to
in this world by its moral adolescents.
Introduction, The United States and
ed.
Ibid.
All great and honorable actions are ac-
Ibid
the Spanish Civil War, by F. Jay
companied with great difficulties, and must
al authority is absolute.
Taylor, 1956.
be both enterprised and overcome with
The world has achieved brilliance wi
: to render this term odious and
answerable courages. The dangers were
out conscience. Ours is a world of nucle
great, but not desperate; the difficulties
giants and ethical infants.
ble, some people try to confuse
Ibid.
Chester Bowles
with arbitrary government. But
were many, but not invincible. For though
(b. 1901)
thing more different, as we shall
there were many of them likely, yet they
Edward S(tuyvesant) Bragg
we speak of justice.
American diplomat, author
were not certain; it might be sundry of
the things feared might never befall; others
(1827-1912)
nce is accountable to no one for
It is the duty of the liberal to protect and
by provident care and the use of good
American soldier, congressman
rders.
to extend the basic democratic freedoms.
st obey princes as justice itself,
means, might in great measure be pre-
hich there would be no order
vented; and all of them, through the help
They love him, gentlemen, and they It
New Republic, July 22, 1946.
se in human affairs.
of God, by fortitude and patience, might
spect him, not only for himself, but for h:
Because there can be no real individual
either be borne or overcome.
character, for his integrity and judgmen
e gods, and participate in the
and iron will; but they love him most fo
freedom in the presence of economic in-
ependence.
Ibid.
History of the Plymouth Plantation.
the enemies he has made.
security, liberalism carries a heavy responsi-
Speech seconding Cleveland for Presi-
bility in fighting continuously to expand
L of government is the good and
dent, 1884.
our economy and to put into effect the
in of the state.
The good
Charles Bradlaugh
economic bill of rights.
Ibid.
1 of the body of the state con-
(1833-1891)
0 things: in religion and justice.
English reformer
Berton Braley
Fundamentally, liberalism is an attitude.
(b. 1882)
rince must employ his authority
The chief characteristics of that attitude are
false religions in his state.
Liberty's chief foe is theology.
American poet
human sympathy, a receptivity to change,
le protector of the public peace
and a scientific willingness to follow reason
ends upon religion; and he must
rather than faith or any fixed ideas. Ibid.
Without free speech no search for truth
We boast of vast achievements and of
power,
throne, of which it is the foun-
is possible; without free speech no dis-
Those who would not suffer
covery of truth is useful; without free
Of human progress knowing no defeat,
to act strictly in matters of re-
Samuel Bowles
speech progress is checked and the nations
Of strange hour- new marvels, every day and
ause religion ought to be free,
(1826-1878)
no longer march forward toward the nobler
ious error.
Ibid.
life which the future holds for men. Better
And street! here's the bread line in the wintry
American newspaper editor
a thousandfold abuse of free speech than
Bovier
Journalism has already come to be the
denial of free speech. The abuse dies in a
The Bread Line, stanza 4.
See Fontenelle
first power in the land.
day, but the denial slays the life of
Ten thousand years replete with
you of
mention tor should title Darg of
Suggested Remarks
For President Bush
National
Drug Abuse Address
control policy
March 8, 1989
Mr. Bennett, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, my fellow
citizens.
Thank you for those words of welcome, and for that generous
reception. And let me say what an honor it is for me to be with
you this afternoon.
Richard
General de Gaulle once observed, "France is never her true
self unless she is engaged in a great enterprise. " Today, we,
Rep.106 Nixon POOCE 106
too, begin a great enterprise. We begin it as Americans, and as
friends.
rather awkward
America's two great issues are peace and prosperity. To
ensure the peace, we must remain strong abroad. To ensure
prosperity, we must remain strong at home.
Today, drug abuse imperils us both within and outside our
borders. It impairs what we are as a Nation, and as a family. It
limits all that we can become.
As a candidate for President, I pledged to complete this
mission: cleansing America of the scourge of drugs. It would take
money, I said, and the will and spirit of the American people.
But, as Americans, nothing lies beyond our reach.
-12-89
Bennettance.
Two months ago, I nominated to the newly position of
Drug Czar a man who embodies that belief.
Over the years, William Bennett has urged that America be
true to its history, and to its highest ideals.
As Secretary of Education, he became an apostle of
other
excellence. And as a scholar and educator, he knows that for^200
years, we Americans have sought to fashion what William Bradford,
writing the 17th-Century history of the Plymouth Colony, referred
to as "answerable courages.
Great by
butnot desperate;
"It was granted the dangers were great, the difficulties
AND
were many, " Bradford said of the Pilgrims, "but all of them ,
through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either
borne or overcome. "
This quality of courage--of confronting, and overcoming, our
challenges- has graced every landmark moment of the American
Story. And so, it will today.
For American history is not passive. It is ongoing; it
lives; it must be constantly renewed. We must act to preserve it,
and to celebrate its values. Let us, then, begin- let us
act against drugs.
My friends, we will need "answerable courages" to combat
this heinous terror. For drug abuse assaults the mind of
S,
destroys
America in damaged lives and careers destroyed. Drug P.67 abuse
assails the heart of America- in 1987, nearly 5,000 deaths ABA in
all. And, yes, the truth is unavoidable: Our funds are finite. We
have reached the limits of what government alone can do.
But government can act, and will. For those who sell drugs
the
mock our history. And those who use drugs find American
the
Nightmare, not American Dream.
This, Bill Bennett knows, for he has said, as I have: Let's
wipe drugs off the face of America. And let's make that face
self-reliant, self-disciplined, and imbued with life--alive with
the will to win. And by accepting this position, he vows, as I
do, to stem drugs' crippling injury. us
scime
econ.
How? By mobilizing our resources fiscal, moral, and
economic--and by waging unconditional war.
99.
32
P
Over million Americans used illegal drugs last year. But more
than
200 million Americans didn't use them, and do not wish to. That
means we must halt those who produce, buy, and traffic drugs:
Not merely to clean up their act, but to protect those already
clean. And that means a war on every front: education, treatment,
interdiction, and enforcement.
2-9-89
Doesn't
2'
Last month, before a joint session of Congress, I outlined
Plow!
Budget fact
these fronts. And I asked for an increase of $1 billion-
sheet
in new outlays for to drug educ.
Budgettact Sheet P.S
nearly $6 billion in 1990--to escalate our war.
p.buiding
America
Some money will be used to expand treatment to the poor and
to young mothers. This will help many of the innocent victims of
drugs--like the thousands of babies born addicted, or with AIDS,
because of the mother's addiction.
Some will be used to cut the waiting time for treatment, and
Energency urban creants P.6 BFS
to help urban schools where the emergency is greatest. And much
of it will be used to protect our borders, helped by the Customs
Service, the Departments of State and Justice, and the U.S.
Military Guard
To spread the word, and thus, to stem demand, we will need
more money for education our request totals $1.1 billion. We
need to educate, and involve parents, teachers, communities,
ourselves. And we need to teach our children, from kindergarten
Budget Factsheet
to college, about the appalling cost of drugs. "Zero Tolerance"
is not a catchword. It is an attitude, a pilgrimage, and must
P.5
become a way of life.
Finally, to crush drug criminals, we will
support -unequivocally our drug enforcement officials: local,
State, and Federal.
5
P.
BABA
Our budget proposes more than $4.1 billion to stop suppliers
by providing grants to State and local law enforcement. It asks
for tougher prosecutions, a new crusade against organized crime,
and enhanced drug prosecution, detention, and intelligence
capabilities. And it demands enforcement of tougher sentences- my
BABA
friends, that means the death penalty. For ours is a Nation of
laws; I intend to enforce them. It's time we cared more about the
victims of crime--and less about its champions.
Funds and programs, yes. But our greatest resource is
personnel
personal, not financial: You, as individuals, and as Americans.
Without the people, we can do nothing; with the people, we
can do everything. So, this morning, I ask you to work together,
and to work with business, churches, families, schools. Only
united, can we vanquish drugs, and unite the American community.
Bill Bennett is a man who has never failed to complete his
mission, and who does not intend to fail today. He knows what
works, what doesn't, and has a stunning record of achievement.
Bill Bennett will be a Drug Czar who informs, and delivers.
He is a man who will help make us proud to be Americans, and help
make America proud.
Carl Sandburg wrote, "The Republic is a dream. Nothing
Bartletts
761
happens unless first a dream. " Our dream is a drug-free America
Together, let us make that dream, reality.
invit
Sweating
INS
mustatted
must
Thank you for inviting me, God bless you all, and God bless
the United States of America.
Jacques Bénigne Bossuet-Samuel Bowles
William Lisle Bowles-Berton Braley
e already seen that all power
Claude G. Bowers
William Lisle Bowles
n God.
Princes act then as
(1878-1957)
(1762-1850)
Omar N. Bradley
of God, and his lieutenants on
American journalist, author, diplomat
English poet, critic, cleric
(b. 1893)
; by them that he rules his em-
American general
"he royal throne is not the throne
We can at least refuse to join in the plan to
The cause of freedom is the cause of God.
but the throne of God himself.
suppress, distort, and mutilate the history of
We have grasped the mystery of
Ibid.
these days (1936-9; the war in Spain). His-
atom and rejected the Sermon on
tory is the torch that is meant to illuminate
William Bradford
Mount. Address, Armistice Day, 1948
on of kings is sacred,
to make
the past to guard us against the repetition
on their lives is a sacrilege. God
(1590-1657)
of our mistakes of other days. We cannot
With the monstrous weapons man alre:
n to be anointed by his prophets
join in the rewriting of history to make it
American colonial governor
has, humanity is in danger of being trap₁
cred unction, in the same way
in this world by its moral adolescents.
conform to our comfort and convenience.
uses pontiffs and his ministry to
Introduction, The United States and
All great and honorable actions are ac-
Ibid.
d.
Ibid.
the Spanish Civil War, by F. Jay
companied with great difficulties, and must
be both enterprised and overcome with
The world has achieved brilliance wit
Taylor, 1956.
al authority is absolute.
answerable courages. The dangers were
out conscience. Ours is a world of nucle
great, but not desperate; the difficulties
giants and ethical infants.
to render this term odious and
Ibid.
ole, some people try to confuse
Chester Bowles
were many, but not invincible. For though
/ith arbitrary government. But
(b. 1901)
there were many of them likely, yet they
Edward S(tuyvesant) Bragg
thing more different, as we shall
American diplomat, author
were not certain; it might be sundry of
(1827-1912)
we speak of justice.
the things feared might never befall; others
American soldier, congressman
ice is accountable to no one for
It is the duty of the liberal to protect and
by provident care and the use of good
ders.
to extend the basic democratic freedoms.
means, might in great measure be pre-
They love him, gentlemen, and they re
t obey princes as justice itself,
New Republic, July 22, 1946.
vented; and all of them, through the help
spect him, not only for himself, but for hi
hich there would be no order
of God, by fortitude and patience, might
character, for his integrity and judgmen
e in human affairs.
Because there can be no real individual
either be borne or overcome.
and iron will; but they love him most for
e gods, and participate in the
freedom in the presence of economic in-
History of the Plymouth Plantation.
the enemies he has made.
pendence.
Ibid.
security, liberalism carries a heavy responsi-
Speech seconding Cleveland for Presi-
bility in fighting continuously to expand
dent, 1884.
of government is the good and
our economy and to put into effect the
Charles Bradlaugh
n of the state.
The good
economic bill of rights.
Ibid.
(1833-1891)
I of the body of the state con-
Berton Braley
English reformer
things: in religion and justice.
Fundamentally, liberalism is an attitude.
(b. 1882)
rince must employ his authority
The chief characteristics of that attitude are
American poet
false religions in his state.
Liberty's chief foe is theology.
human sympathy, a receptivity to change,
e protector of the public peace
We boast of vast achievements and of
and a scientific willingness to follow reason
ends upon religion; and he must
Without free speech no search for truth
power,
rather than faith or any fixed ideas. Ibid.
throne, of which it is the foun-
is possible; without free speech no dis-
Of human progress knowing no defeat,
Those who would not suffer
covery of truth is useful; without free
to act strictly in matters of re-
Samuel Bowles
speech progress is checked and the nations
Of strange hour- new marvels, every day and
use religion ought to be free,
no longer march forward toward the nobler
(1826-1878)
life which the future holds for men. Better
And street! here's the bread line in the wintry
ous error.
Ibid.
American newspaper editor
a thousandfold abuse of free speech than
The Bread Line, stanza 4.
denial of free speech. The abuse dies in a
Bovier
Journalism has already come to be the
day, but the denial slays the life of the
Ten thousand years replete with everv
See Fontenelle
first power in the land.
Ruchard
REAL
REAL
PEACE
106
REAL PEACE
RICHARD NIXON
a strategy to meet it, and because they lacked the will to
delicate plant. It has to be (
make the necessary sacrifices to win.
if it is to survive; if we neg
The history of the world is a narrative of man's struggle
Peace has barely survived i
to become free and remain free. Freedom has not come
century. The violence of
cheaply, and keeping it is not easy. We hold a responsibility
smaller wars has nearly
to the future unique to our time and place. Nothing that
has managed to survive,
today's generation can leave for tomorrow's will mean
grim burden but an inspirir
more than the heritage of liberty.
real peace. Given the alter
No people have ever had a more exciting challenge. Yet
not fail.
the American people sometimes become deeply disillu-
sioned about playing this role in the world. The loss in
Vietnam was traumatically painful. The burden of building
the defenses of the free world is great. The fact that coun-
tries to which we give billions of dollars in aid vote against
us consistently in the United Nations is maddening.
Without the United States, there is no chance for peace
and freedom to survive. Without the United States, the
dawn of the twenty-first century would open a new age
of barbarism on a global scale.
But we must assume this burden not just for others but
for ourselves. We have a spiritual stake in not walking
away from a great historical challenge. President de Gaulle
wrote, "France is never her true self except when she is
engaged in a great enterprise." This is true of individuals;
it is true of nations; it is particularly true of Americans.
Only by participating in a great enterprise can we be true
to ourselves.
There could be no greater enterprise than to build a
structure of real peace. The struggle to protect freedom
and build real peace can raise the sights of Americans
from the mundane to the transcendent, from the immediate
to the enduring.
During a meeting with Brezhnev in the Crimea in 1974,
I jotted down this note on a pad of paper: "Peace is like a
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environment. And his view which 1 share, that it is not at all inconsistent
with advancing both energy security and national security needs. Both Jim and I
feel that a domestic cil and gas industry 15 vital to our national security
interests And we can have both a safer and more secure nation, but we cannot
rely on one energy source nuclear power oil, gas, coal, other sources,
all will be needed to meet the energy requirements and the securi equirements
of the United States in the years ahead.
My second announcement today concerns the federal government's response to a
serious national problem, as serious as any that WE face today. I think if you
took a poll, the American people would say it is the most important problem we
face. Certainly it's as serious as any problem we're likely to face in the
years to come, and I'm talking, of course, about drugs and drug abuse. I'm
talking about drug interdiction of narcotics coming into this country. I'm
talking about education, so that we can cut down on the demand for drugs in this
country.
And 50 let me tell you where I think WE stand. It's an often-used metaphor, but
it's really the only one that really serves. We are at war. Drugs are a
terrifying, insidious enemy. They challenge almost every aspect of American
public policy -- the law, our national security, our public health. And the
threat they pose reaches deep into our nation's soul. It touches our very
character as a people. And it touches our future, our next generation, the
nurture and protection of our children.
Defeatism and despair about drugs simply will not do. We have one formidable
weapon in our arsenal: American opinion. The nation has turned a hard EYE now
on drugs. Zero tolerance is becoming a national attitude, and one I mean to
encourage. And this new consensus gives us an opportunity we can't afford to
miss. We can use it to develop a meaningful, tough, consolidated national
strategy against drug trafficking and drug abuse, against both supply and
demand. And as President, I am committed to lead that effort, and I plan to be
personally involved.
Now the Congress has authorized creation of a White House Office of National
Drug Control Policy at Cabinet level. And I am especially pleased to announce
my intention to nominate my Friend, Bill Bennett, former Secretary William
Bennett, to head that office as its director.
AS you know, Bill has already had two -- at least, two distinguished careers:
First, in academic life as a teacher and philosopher; and then too, in public
life, most recently as President Reagan's Secretary of Education from February
'85 until just last fall. And in that office, he served on the White House Drug
Enforcement Policy Board, and he was the leader of anti-drug efforts in our
nation's schools.
It's coincidental. A5 Jim Watkins was heading this AIDS Commission and putting
emphasis on the education -- the importance of education there, Bill Bennett,
right along the same track, fighting that problem -- the problem of better
education, encouraging better education -- in our nation's schools.
And in his new job, Bill will be responsible for establishing and organizing a
new and much-needed office in the White House, he will take the lead in
developing a coordinated national drug policy, and I'll ask him to implement
that policy working with the Congress and with all relevant federal state and
local agencies and programs. It is a tremendous undertaking.
And the bottom-line is this. We need, fully and completely, to marshal the
nation's energy and intelligence in a true all out war against drugs. We can
and must win that war. And I'm delighted that Bill Bennett will be here to help
ME lead that campaign. So, Bill and Jim, welcome aboard.
Let me say a final word about both of these men. They bring to our
administration valuable experience, rich insight from a broad array of areas,
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experience in tackling very difficult assignments and doing them well. And I'm
going to value their counsel on a wide-range of issues that go beyond their
specific responsibilities.
AS in the past, I'm going to ask each one of them to say a word. And then, I'll
be glad to take some questions, and then, courageously leave and leave the
questioning to Bill Bennett and to Jim Watkins. Jim.
ADM. WATKINS: Thank you, Mr. President-elect, for giving me this special
opportunity to serve you and to serve the nation again in government service.
As you mentioned in your introductory remarks, I've had many years of
educational and practical experience in the military, and more recently in the
private sector, in matters related to safe and efficient operation of nuclear
reactors.
This experience has confirmed my long-standing conviction that environmental. and
energy objectives can be made mutually compatible. Consequently, I reject the
stamp of mutual exclusivity that some would arbitrarily assign to them. I have
confidence that after I've had a chance to get my feet on the ground in the
position OF Secretary of Energy, I can help find that desired and balanced
formula wherein safety is never subverted, environmentally -- environment is
adequately protected, and national security and other energy objectives are
achieved in harmony with each other.
This is my commitment to you, Mr. President-elect; to the members of Congress
with whom I'll be working closely on these issues; and to all Americans who are
concerned about the many complex energy issues facing our nation today. Thank
you very much.
SEC. BENNETT: I very much admire the President-elect, and I wish to thank him
today for his confidence in me. I am honored by it, I am buoyed by it. And I
shall reciprocate his confidence in me by loyal service to him.
I look forward to working closely and cooperatively with my colleagues in the
Cabinet, in the agencies, and in the Congress, and with the many groups of
citizens all around the United States united by their opposition to illegal
drugs.
Finally, 1 would say this. This business, this drug business, is a serious
business; and this government, this administration, intends to take it
seriously. I accept this nomination with humility, conscious of the enormity --
conscious of the enormous task that lies before us, and I accept it with a firm
resolve to do my best to make things better. Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH (to the press): Fire away!
Q Mr. President-elect, how would you explains to the Texas randrgas many how
Mr Watkins background suits him: to address their problems?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I'll put it this way. They've got a President of the
United States that came out of the oil and gas industry, that knows it and knows
it well. Admiral Watkins shares my views, as expressed in my opening statement,
about the need For a strong oil and gas industry in terms of our own national
security among other things -- leave the economy aside for moment, In-terms of
our national security. So, we're compatible there. } expect in the Department
of Energy we will see people in high levels who are experts in the hydrocarbon
business, in oil and gas. 1 have long been convinced, and the Admiral agrees,
that deregulation in natural gas, for example, is very, very important. And I
hope, with his help, WE can make headway on that in the Congress.
The Department of Energy has many areas of responsibility One that 15 crying
out now for a solution one problem area is this whole nuclear Field And
Texans have a big stake in seeing that handled very well, as do the rest of the
49 states. So, we have, in Jim, a man who has been a tremendous success. His
area of energy expertise happens to be in the nuclear end, but his knowledge
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of the world as a Former chief of naval operations has him understand as well as
any of his predecessors, if not better, the need for a strong domestic oil and
gas industry Right down here.
Q You have handed these two men some pretty difficult tasks. How are they going
to manage them without a major infusion of new cash?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Well, I'll let them answer those questions. But you could
ask that same question of every one of the Cabinet designees before them. And
these are tough times, because I am committed to getting that budget deficit
down. But we are going to have to find ways to solve the problems of nuclear
energy, or certainly of fighting drugs, within perhaps existing resources or
maybe slightly higher increases for spending in those areas. But look, if the
question --- if 1 could paraphrase it and say, "Would it be a lot easier for them
if they had unlimited funds to spend?" the answer would clearly be yes. But
regrettably, we're not living in that kind of a time. Yes?
Q Mr. President-elect, Bill Bennett's friends say that he has been a heavy
smoker For many years; he's tried to quit and has not been able to quit. The
Surgeon General has said that tobacco should be classified as a drug and has
killed 50 times as many people as cocaine and heroin addiction. Are you aware
that Mr. Bennett has been addicted to nicotine? (Laughter.) And do you think
that he's going to be able to educate the public about quitting drugs if he's
had this problem with his addiction?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I would let him refer to anything on his personal habits,
and I'll give equal time to all the smokers in the room here. But I would
simply say that he knows his mandate. He will do a superb job in fighting
drugs. Yes, Dave?
Q Mr. Vice President, the nuclear issue that you've raised today is likely to be
very expensive; some people talk about $100 billion over several years. Another
big item that may be confronting you in your First year is the savings and loan
industry crisis, also in many billions. Do you plan to ask Congress for money
to address these two problems? And can you also, at the same time, under the
flexible freeze, fulfill your other priorities if these two things absorb a lot
of that money?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Dave, you could have kept the list going in terms of what
I read about how much a lot of other things are going to cost. But that's one
of the things we're grappling with right now is how to solve these problems
within the confines, the parameters, of the commitment I made to the American
people. And we will be able to do that.
Yes, John?
Q Mr. Vice President, you offered the drug post to Senator DeConcini, obviously,
or apparently, with bipartisan interests involved. Bill Bennett hasn't
concealed his interest in partisan politics. Have you asked him to renounce his
interest in politics? And can you demonstrate that this is truly going to be a
bipartisan position?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: It has to work with both sides of the Hill. But I'm not
going to ask him to renounce that vim and that vigor and that determination that
made a howling success in President Reagan's administration as the Secretary of
Education. I don't like to think that fighting drugs is a Republican problem or
a Democrat problem. And I think the members of the Congress that I've talked to
would agree with that. And he will approach this as a national problem. He's
not going in there to ask some guy in the police department if he's a Republican
or a Democrat, or some interdiction officer what their politics are, or somebody
on the Hill whether WE ought to have a Republican or a Democratic policy. We
are going to formulate, under his leadership, a national drug policy. We've
been handed legislation that I am determined to enforce. Some know here that I
might have handled that slightly differently because of what I said in the
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campaign. It's the law of the land; we're going to make it work. And we've
gotten the best man available to make it work.
Yes?
Q Mr. President --
Q Yes, Mr. Vice President --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: The gentleman here, and then we'll try to get right back
there.
Q Thank you. on the issue of energy and national security, in Mexico workers
for the state-owned Pemex oil company are holding a major demonstration today
and planned strikes in protest of the arrest of the leader of their union, which
they say is; actually related to an effort to privatize Pemex by the government
there. In the event these workers were to take over Pemex somehow, do WE have
contingency plans here, given that that would threaten our strategic oil
reserves?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: One, I don't believe it would threaten, our strategic oil
reserves. There is oil available to fill the strategic reserve. Two, that is
an internal matter for the state of -- for the country of Mexico. And the
action taken by Mr. Salinas doesn't need anything from us in terms of criticism
or applause, except I think I will editorialize to this extent and say that it
appears he took a very bold action, and courageous action. That some allege it
has to do with the privatization of the energy industry in Mexico comes as a
surprise to me, because I have had no indication that that is what's at stake in
Mexico at all, and I'm one who has -- years ago, did business down there. Yes?
Q Mr. President, last year there were over 3,000 leveraged buyouts, mergers and
acquisitions, both Friendly and unfriendly. There's very Few publicly owned
corporations left. What are you going to do to stop this alarming trend?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: First place, you're talking to one who would, as much as
possible, nely on market forces. Secondly, if there are abuses of our tax laws,
they will be seriously -- the whole tax law will be reviewed to SEE how they can
be eliminated. For example, if people say that equity is debt and has to be
treated as debt, and, indeed, it really is equity, there are things you can do
in the tax laws to correct that. But I am not against bigness. I am not in
favor of the government picking winners and losers. I am in favor of the
government seeing that there is no abuse through the tax system.
Q This position of so-called drug czar is a new one. This 15 a first.
Operationally, how do you see this proceeding? Do you see Secretary Bennett's
primary set of attentions to be toward coordinating or using a bully pulpit? Do
you envision a Drug Policy Board anew? How do you see this working?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: WE have a board that's mandated. We have a coordinating
work, in that each secretary will have some bite of the apple in interdiction.
Obviously, the Department of Defense has major control of those resources,
although Treasury, with its fantastic Coast Guard interdiction, has a lot to say
about that. It has an international component that the State Department has a
major hand in. There -- it has, as I mentioned in my remarks, an intelligence
component.
And I SEE Bill coordinating, working -- and he and I have talked about this
working with these secretaries. Now he's got to lead. He's got this portfolio.
He's got on his hands the mandate to beat back the drug problem. And 50 it is a
coordinative role. It is one where he is going to have to be out front leading
the way in a lot of areas. He's already demonstrated a wonderful ability to do
that in education. My view, I think, is in accord with his, and you could ask
him, that both of us feel that the problem cannot be solved by interdiction
alone, and that throws us into the major approach on the demand side.
He's got to work very cooperatively with Dick Thornburgh, the Attorney General,
and the actual law enforcement, and 50 it is an anomaly in a sense. There's
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nothing like it. There hasn't been anything like it. But nobody's faced -- no
administration has had to really face this national problem in these dimensions
before, and yet nobody's had the a guy like Bill Bennett willing to take it
on before. So it'll work. It'll work.
Yeah, Norm?
Q The White House today released a report to Congress that outlines a plan that
over 20 years is estimated to cost $81 billion to clean up, to upgrade and
modernize the nation's nuclear weapons production facilities. Are you committed
to the findings and recommendations of that report? And also, how do you intend
to act on that immediately after the 20th of January?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I'm not committed to any report. I'm committed to asking
Jim Watkins to immediately take a look at that and everything else that's around
and formulate a national energy policy that clearly will include the safety and
the cleanup aspects that I talked about --
Q But isn't there a risk there of further delays that could cause additional
national security concerns?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I think there's a risk, if WE imprudently go forward,
until he and I have had a chance to take a hard look.
Yes, Jerry?
Q (Off-mike.)
Q Mr. President-elect, I wanted to ask you about --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Yes. (Answering off-mike question.)
Q Thank you.
Q -- chemical weapons, an issue that's attracting a lot of attention right now,
especially
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Chemical? Yeah.
Q -- chemical weapons. What is your own reaction to these steps the Soviets
announced last week about reducing their own stockpile of chemical arms? And
secondly, if we're going to try to convince the Libyans not to build a chemical
arms plant, would our position be enhanced if WE had some kind of a moratorium
of our own on our own production of binary chemical weapons?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: on the First part of your question, I'm glad that the
Soviets have joined us in that. We've been doing that for some time. Secondly,
I'd have to think about the second part. 1 think we're in a stage of starting
on this problem, the solution of which I am strongly committed to, by
non-proliferation. It seems to me that has to be the first step. And that is
why there has been this understandable concern here and abroad about Libya.
But, whether our program can be used as an escape From further proliferation by
others, I'd have to think a little more about that. But my view is, I will
press as President the follow-on to what our administration has been doing,
press as President to try to find verifiable ways of eliminating these things.
Yes, ma'am?
Q Yes. Two international questions. Your First international trip will be to
Emperor Hirohito's funeral. Can you say anything to allay the concerns of
criticism of some of the allied leaders?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Well, I haven't seen criticism -- well, which -- if you'd
refer -- maybe I will refresh my mind if you could tell me which criticism.
Q There's been pretty harsh statements made about Emperor Hirohito by the New
Zealand's Defense Minister, for example, and Australia --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Yes. Yes. I didn't know there were others. I know I'm
doing the right thing to represent the United States of America at this funeral.
Obviously, as one who served in the Pacific theater long ago in that war, if
you'd have suggested to me on September 2nd -- get this date now -- September
2nd -- (laughter) -- 1944, that I would be representing the United States at
this event, why, I would have found that a little hard to believe. But we
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have a strong relationship with Japan. The Emperor has conducted himself in
that job with tremendous dignity from the day he went to see MacArthur there in
Tokyo when the war ended. That set a tone for a recovery that built into
friendship. And our relationship is strong. And what I am symbolizing is not
the past, but the present and the Future by going there.
Q And also, on your letter to Jonas Savimbi, can you tell us, have you written
any other such letters of commitment to other leaders or --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I probably have, but I can't give you an inventory. And
if I could, I'm not sure I would, because some of these communications are
understandably private. But clearly, in expressing my determination to support
UNITA and urge at the same time reconciliation between dos Santos and Savimbi,
I'm for that policy and I want to try to enhance it. Yeah?
Q Mr. President-elect, can you tell us or give us an idea as to why it took 50
long to choose an Energy secretary?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I don't think it's taken 50 long. Please look at history
-- average everything out. I think we've done very, very well. I have viewed
this -- I've gone back and Forth a little bit on it between the question that
Will asked here, oil and gas and nuclear, or nuclear and oil and gas. But, I
think I have properly concluded, because of the problems that I'm being asked
about here today, that the top of that agency be in the hands of somebody with
considerable experience in the nuclear field.
So, that took a little longer than perhaps -- if I'd been able to sort that out
in my mind a little earlier, maybe we'd have moved a little more quickly. I'm
not sure if I'd have said to Jim Watkins a month ago, would he do this, that --
because I just talked to him about his wonderful ambitions about doing more in
the field of helping kids. He'd just come out of the success of this AIDS
report a FEW months before that. And 50 maybe 1, in waiting and trying to solve
this problem after some of the other Cabinet, maybe I just lucked into something
good.
Q DO you anticipate that on the choice of Admiral Watkins that there will be a
resurgence of civilian nuclear energy research and development and promotion in
this country?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: 1 hope 50. But again, as he said, prudence,
environmentally sound, but I don't think there's a person in the world that
followed this campaign that doesn't know that I am convinced we are not going to
solve the national energy needs of this country through hydrocarbons alone or
through wind and thermal or coal alone. we must safely use nuclear power. And
in appointing a man to head the Energy Department who has lived with the safe
use of nuclear power and understands it, I think we've taken a very good step.
Yeah?
Q Mr. President-elect, did you have any discussions with the Admiral about
making sure that the Deputy Secretary you wind up nominating has oil and gas
experience?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I told Jim that that might be a possibility, but as in
every other -- I would like him to consider that possibility, but as in all
these other jobs, 1 am not going to saddle our Cabinet officers with deputies
with whom they might or might not be compatible. But as -- the way it's worked,
Norm, is that we've tried to work with our Transition Office ginning up a lot of
good names, sitting with the Secretary. And I think that Admiral Watkins will
do, as others are, work with the Transition people to find a deputy that's
satisfactory to him. If it proves to be somebody from, with knowledge of, the
oil and gas business, that would be very agreeable to me, because I am -- I
don't want to send any signals that indicate less than a continuing interest in
a strong, independent, domestic oil and gas business.
Yes?
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Q Mr. President-elect, the modernization of the defense nuclear facilities is
estimated to cost $81 billion, which is nothing compared to the estimated cost
of cleaning up these sites. You said you're not committed to the report, but
are you committed to a full cleanup of the radio-active sites around the
country?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Sure, absolutely.
Way back there.
Q Mr. Vice President --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Two more after this. Once, twice, and one on this side,
so we're fair -- this lady back here.
Yes?
Q We're told that you're going to be meeting with your full Cabinet later this
afternoon to give them their marching orders. What are you going to tell them?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Just a minute. (Laughter.)
Q Good afternoon.
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: (Laughing.) Yeah -- 1 would leave it, "good afternoon."
I'm going to tell them to think big. (Laughter.) I'm going to tell them to
challenge the system. I'm going to tell them to, as each one of them has
demonstrated, to adhere to the highest ethical standards. I'm going to tell
them I don't like "kiss and tell" books. (Laughter.) I'm not going to censor,
but I'm going to tell them what I think. This will come as a surprise to some
I'd rather SEE their name on the record than insidiously leaked to somebody;
be on the record as much as possible. It's better for your profession, and it's
certainly better for mine.
I don't mind differences being aired. I want them to be Frank, I want them to
fight hard for their -- their position. And then after I make the call, I'd
like to have the feeling that they'd be able to support the President. [I'll]
talk to them a little about personnel.
(Jokingly to Watkins and Bennett.) You guys don't have to come to the meetings,
now. (Laughter.)
I'll tell them to work with Congress. We're going to have some fights with
Congress, but we're not going to approach it as though we're dealing with the
enemy, whatever party they're From, whatever philosophical bent the member of
Congress adheres to. I'm going to ask -- tell them that I welcome their
suggestions as to how Barbara and I can enhance their work. Have a nice house
over there, and a lot of ways to hopefully be helpful in that side, from the
East Wing side of things.
I'm going to tell them I want to see some strong representation of minority
faces in these jobs. I'm going to tell them I'd like to see us represent the
United States with dignity, but I don't believe that means WE need any
imperialism in the way we approach spending on these matters. I don't think
we'll SEE all lot of my sons, my daughters, or their sons and daughters on the
payroll. And I might think of something else before we get through.
Let's see, there was one on the end back here, and then one, and then I'm going.
Q What can you tell us about the ethics advisory group you're going to appoint?
And will they be looking at ethics not only for elected officials, but at the
Pentagon as well?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: I think that the ethics -- 1 am committed to sending up an
ethics bill, and under the auspices of our Chief of Staff obviously, but then
general counsel. We will do what { indicated in the campaign I'd do in terms of
formulating ethics programs. And it will apply government-wide, and hopefully
will be of some help to all branches of government. And I hope that the
recommendations I make will be realistic and will not be -- not prevent
government From attracting men and women of integrity, but by
over-regulating, over-legislating in this field.
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Q There's a report that you're going to appoint an advisory group which will get
back to you within 30 days. Is that what you're going to do?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Well, I've got to read tomorrow's paper, because I didn't
know we'd even announced an advisory group yet. So I'll have to reserve on that
until 1 understand how accurate what I'm going to do is. (Laughter.) Yeah, last
one.
Q Your inaugural is reported to cost somewhere in the vicinity of $25 million.
And given the social problems that abound, and granted that most of that money
is private, are you comfortable with the kind of signals that spending sends?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Not entirely. But I'm comfortable with the concept that
this inauguration has more events that are free and open to the people, I'm
told, than any of our predecessors'. But I think it'll be -- I think it'll have
some glamor to it, but I also think it'll have a lot of history, a lot of
patriotism, a lot of unity. And so, it's -- I can understand why you asked the
question, but I do think the fact that it is private Funding is a very good
thing, and 50 it's -- for the most part; there's some military support for this
inauguration, as others in the past -- but I think that a country should have,
every four years, something as unifying, with the pageantry and the drama, of an
inauguration. And 50, I have no apologies for the way we're doing it at all.
Q I have one last follow-up which is --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Is it along the same lines?
Q It's very short.
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: oh, good.
Q (Inaudible.)
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: (Laughs.) I've said all I can about that.
Q Is the tone and theme --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Sure, it is.
Q Is your tone and theme of your inaugural address --
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Haven't gotten into that yet. We're just beginning to
work on it. But it's not going to be a 20-point program for solving the nuclear
waste program, I'll tell you that. Last one.
Q Mr. President-elect, are you planning to continue the practice of annual
summits with Canada? And if 50, when are you planning to meet the Canadian
Prime Minister?
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH: Well, very early, on the second part of your question.
And I'm not -- I'm thinking quickly here about annual summits. I think it's
worked home and home arrangements, you know, and I certainly would want to
continue that. We're not going to take for granted our neighbors to the north
or to the south. And I think it should continue. I was thinking here as to
whether to suggest to, by way of this medium, some changes to Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney. But 1 think that the idea of every other year, home and home,
is a good thing, and certainly at a minimum, would be what I'd want to recommend
and talk to them about.
Now, thank you all very much, and Jim and Bill, you want to take over? Good
luck. Thank you.
Q Admiral Watkins --
ADM. WATKINS: Yes?
Q The word is out on the 2010 report on how to modernize the defense facilities
around the country -- the nuclear facilities. Have you seen the report? And
what are your thoughts on it?
ADM. WATKINS: No, I have not seen the report. I understand it's out. Some of
the figures were reported here today. I have read some of the articles in the
various -- Congressional Review, the General Accounting Office letter to Senator
Glenn and others. So I have a general feel for the order of magnitude.
Obviously I'm going to have review this, the first order of business before
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the confirmation hearings.
Q A follow up, please. The balance has to be reached between production of
these nuclear facilities and safeguarding the environment.
ADM. WATKINS: Absolutely.
Q AS a Former military man, what can you tell people about your desires on (the
environment ?)?
ADM. WATKINS: We had I have 25 years of experience in that very area. I'll
tell you one thing that Admiral Rickover did, he inculcated into us an intense
feeling about protecting the environment. So much 50 that WE stripped out our
own regulatory authority and kept it within the Navy, because his prediction in
1962 to me, when I worked for him on his staff for Four years, that within 20
years we would have a serious accident in the private sector because there were
corners being cut. And it was only 17 years later that Three Mile Island took
place.
Since that time, the nuclear power industry and the private sector has gotten
their act together through the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. They put
$65 million a year into 400 people that do nothing but come in and tell them
what they're doing wrong. And they share that information industry-wide. And
we're beginning to pull out of it. And it's taken ten years now, and it's about
time to demonstrate to the American people we can do it sensibly, responsibly.
We can get rid of that waste. WE can control it right. WE can put the research
issue. into waste management, which is not a very exciting issue, but a very critical
And I believe that same expertise that WE applied there, that had safe nuclear
operation for over 30 years, can be applied to all aspects -- not just in the
nuclear power industry, but in weapons development plants which actually are
operating nuclear reactors.
Q (Are you an ?) environmentalist?
ADM. WATKINS: 1 don't know what that means. I am very conscious about the
environment.
Q Secretary Bennett, do you feel that the military should have an expanded role
in the war on drugs?
SEC. BENNETT: Well, I'm not going to comment on that, obviously, until I have a
chance to talk to the Senate of the United States at confirmation, but there 11
be more to say about that later.
Q Secretary Bennett, the President-elect described your performance at the
Department of Education as a howling success; your critics might describe it
simply as howling, that your combative attitude may, in fact, make it more
difficult for you to do your job in coordinating with all these agencies and
working with the Hill and taking on the drug issue.
SEC. BENNETT: Well, I will leave to the historians the ultimate determination of
my legacy and my work at the Department. In terms of critics, everybody has
critics, particularly people who try to do something. Ronald Reagan taught many
lessons. One of the great lessons he taught was the difference between critics
and box office. And that's a very important, very important distinction.
I plan to approach this job with great seriousness, with humility, as I've said,
given the enormity of the task and with resolve to make things better. But it's
a different kind of job than being Secretary of Education. It's going to mean
more time on the Hill, I expect, more time meeting with colleagues in the other
departments and agencies. It's more of a coordinating role. But it certainly
has its aspects of -- if not howling -- but I wouldn't call that the right word
-- of talking to the American people, having a conversation with the American
people, because I think public opinion, public feeling, public attitude matters
50 much.
Q Secretary is there any way that you would want to harness the Reagans -- for
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example, Mrs. Reagan, who's been so vocal in this -- (inaudible)?
SEC. BENNETT: I certainly would. You can't be a good citizen alone, and,
indeed, one would want to take advantage of any interested and involved person
in this war against drugs. It's going to need -- require the efforts of many of
us. A person as notable and who has made as notable a contribution as Nancy
Reagan, obviously, would be someone you'd want to have involved. And as far as
President Reagan, he -- when he lends his weight to any cause, there are better
chances for its success.
(Mixed voices from the press.)
SEC. BENNETT: I have a call into the First Lady. I called her late this
morning, and I expect I'll talk with her soon.
Q Admiral, Senator --
STAFF: Any more questions for the -- (inaudible)?
Q Yes. Mr. Bennett, with the profit motive so high, how much impact can be
made, aiming at the demand side of the drug problem, and how would you go about
that?
SEC. BENNETT: Well, again, there will be more to be said about that later. And
I think it's proper to let the Senate hear my views on this once I've done my
homework, but, as you heard the President-elect say, this is a problem of supply
and demand. The Congress' view is -- was to put in a Deputy Director for Demand
and a Deputy Director for Supply. You got to work all sides of this problem,
all ends of this problem. If you just work one side, all the problems will flow
to the other side. So, that's what we plan to take a look at.
Q Secretary Bennett, some of your critics have said that you're great at raising
an issue, being a -- using the bully pulpit, but that you do not follow through.
And if your task now is more coordinating and more on the follow-through side,
how do you respond to those complaints?
SEC. BENNETT: Well, I respond by saying, I think I follow through fine, and I
think I followed through fine at the Department of Education. But what is meant
by follow-through? At the Department of Education, the real follow-through, the
ultimate follow-through, obviously had to be in America's classrooms by
America's teachers, principals, and 50 on. In the war against drugs, you don't,
I guess, expect ME to be walking a beat or patrolling in people's houses. It's
going to have to be followed through by all of us, by a clear determination on
the part of the American people, both those who have official responsibility and
all of us in our private capacities to say that the stuff is wrong. That's
where the real follow-through is.
Q When Congress was deciding the legislation cn this new drug czar position, one
of the House members during the debate said that he wanted "a real stud" in that
position. (Mild laughter.) Are you a real stud? Can you take this and do
something with it?
SEC. BENNETT: Am I a real stud? Well, I was asked whether I would give up
smoking, whether I would give up politics. New you ask -- (laughter) -- no, if
there were ever any aspire-to-stud days, I left them back in high school or
college (mild laughter) -- at the latest. But let me comment on that, since
it's been raised, the smoking thing, you will not have a Director of National
Drug Control Policy who smokes. I've been scolded about it and I deserve to be
scolded about it. 1 don't deserve to be arrested For it, however. But you
won't have that problem on this issue on the job.
Q Are you giving up smoking?
SEC. BENNETT: By the time I'm the National Director -- (laughter) --
Q (Inaudible.)
SEC. BENNETT: It's an honest answer. It's hard.
Q When you were the Secretary of Education, you took on a lot of sacred COWS.
You called school administration, "the great blob that eats education
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dollars. Do you SEE any sacred COWS in the drug war that you're going to take
on?
SEC. BENNETT: It's not the same thing. It's not the same universe. It's very
different.
Q Mr. Secretary, was it your position, while you were Secretary of Education
that kids in schools using drugs should be thrown out of the classrooms and is
that still your position and what do you think that would accomplish?
SEC. BENNETT: We often referred at the Department and in our publication
"Schools without Drugs," which I think is one of the very best publications on
the subject and I think which the field appreciates as a very good publication
-- WE said in there that WE admired certain school systems and WE pointed to,
specifically, the Anne Arundel system -- which I notice The Washington Post just
editorialized about their position -- and I'm glad to SEE that the Post came to
that view recently. The position at Anne Arundel is this: If you are drug
pusher, you are expelled or you are suspended for a very long time or expelled.
If you are drug-user, you are suspended for a few days.
You have to enter a counseling program. IF you err and make a mistake and do
it again, then you are suspended -- for a long period of time, or expelled.
It's a very effective program. The most interesting thing about it is the fact
that very few students end up getting expelled once they realize that the school
authorities are serious. A lot of school systems around the country are
emulating that.
The point, of course, is to be tough on this issue, but WE certainly can't be
tougher on our children than we are going to be on ourselves. Thank you.
Q Secretary Bennett, do you anticipate the need for new restrictions on
transportation systems to inhibit drugs?
Q Admiral Watkins, there are some critics who are concerned that your military
background will mean that you will put production of nuclear weapons ahead of
concerns about safety, health, environment. Is that a legitimate concern?
ADM. WATKINS: No, it's not. It's no more a legitimate concern than it was that
I was unqualified for the AIDS Commission, in my opinion.
Q Admiral Watkins, what do you think of that? The President-elect went out of
his way to mention this. Both you and Secretary Bennett have been involved in
the AIDS issue. Of course, in truth, you've been on very different sides of
SOME issues. In particular, your strongest recommendation, the Commission's,
was for anti-discrimination legislation at the federal level. Since the
President-elect mentioned he feels very strongly about your role in that
Commission, have you any assurance from him that he will put that anywhere near
the top of his legislative agenda?
ADM. WATKINS: 1 have not spoken to the President-elect about that. But as you
know, on the 28th of June he supported the anti-discrimination features of our
recommendation, which were the most controversial. And I testified in support
of the Americans With Disabilities Act before the 100th Congress. It is my
personal feeling that that is key to getting on with control OF the epidemic.
Q Do you have any fear that he might leave it on the back burner?
ADM. WATKINS: I do not have any -- I have not had any communications with the
Vice President since he made this supporting statement. And at that time I
called him, and 1 said, "You've done DI very courageous thing, Mr. Vice
President. You've supported the most controversial element of this report, and
only a day after WE met in the Oval Office." And I said, "You're going to lose a
lot of right-wing votes." He said, "I know it, Jim, but it was the right thing
to do." That gave ME a tremendous feeling of optimism that we're going to move
aggressively on a range of other issues contained in our report.
Q Admiral, what kind of an emphasis are you going to give on the development
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of "clean" nuclear energy, namely nuclear fusion? And do you see that there's
any prospect for it?
ADM. WATKINS: I think it's very premature for me to get into that kind of detail
right now. I understand the fusion process, I understand the technology. I do
not understand, at this point in time, what the budget ramifications are, the
programmatic ramifications of what's now in the budget. And I'll be studying
those in great detail between now and the time I go up for Senate hearings.
Q Admiral, (inaudible) that that 1.8 billion in DOE cleanup for nuclear wastes
-- nuclear or non-nuclear -- is woefully inadequate, and he recommended $6
[billion] or $7 billion a year. Have you any plans to sit down with the
President-Elect and reconfigure in a major way DOEs budget to achieve --
ADM. WATKINS: You heard the President-Elect a few minutes ago talk about this
report. He expects ME to grab a hold of that report, to review it, to take all
of the near-term actions necessary to work with the Hill, to find the
reconciliation necessary, certainly in the '90 budget, and then, whatever has to
be done to the '91 budget. It's going to take time for me to look at all of
those ramifications to SEE where dollars need to be put in priority in order to
achieve the mutually important objectives, which I mentioned in my statement,
can be brought together.
Q Admiral Watkins --
ADM. WATKINS: Yes, right down here.
Q What mechanisms do you favor for shoring up oil prices, if any?
ADM. WATKINS: Well, you're -- you're touching me in Achilles' heel. I am not an
expert in this area. I plan to work with the transition office and bring in oil
and gas leadership that can work with ME and give me that kind of initial
strength I need before I can get up to speed. I am a fast learner, but I do not
have the answer to those kinds of things. And they'll be at the focal point OF
my attention as I move through this early period prior to the hearings on the
floor.
Q The Savannah River plant is engaged in a massive repair program. The Pentagon
says it needs all three reactors operating by the fall. It's almost certain
that all three reactors won't be operating by the fall. Do you anticipate
ordering the reactors to be restarted before this repair program?
ADM. WATKINS: I do not have the whole picture on the lifetime of the tritium
resources we have in the country at this point, and how they relate to national
defense. I do not have that detail -- that's classified information that would
not be discussed anywhere pubicly, but I have to get into that. Those are the
kinds of things I'm going to be briefed on in the next couple of weeks, and get
up to speed, SO I can put into my own context, the sense of urgency and the
timing that's critical. And I think that will drive a lot -- it'll drive
resources because I don't think there's many alternatives except that it will
not be done at the expense of safety.
Q Admiral Watkins, do you favor policies to encourage energy conservation among
drivers such as an increase in the gasoline tax to what it is in other countries
or ordering or requiring that Detroit raises its mileage MPG standards?
ADM. WATKINS: Well, I'm not going to touch those kinds of things. I'm very
anxious to Find out exactly what DOE is doing in conservation of energy.
There's a whole mission requirement. There's a whole section of DOE that is
devoted to energy conservation, and I plan to get in it and Find out exactly
what that means; what are we really doing with the teeth in the program. And
YES, I believe there should be teeth in the program. But I don't believe, at
this point in time, it would be sensible for me to get into the specifics of
that kind of thing.
Q Thank you.
Suggested Remarks
For President Bush
Drug Abuse Address
March 8, 1989
Mr. Bennett, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, my fellow
citizens.
Thank you for those words of welcome, and for that generous
reception. And let me say what an honor it is for me to be with
you this afternoon.
General de Gaulle once observed, "France is never her true
self unless she is engaged in a great enterprise. " Today, we,
too, begin a great enterprise. We begin it as Americans, and as
friends.
America's two great issues are peace and prosperity. To
ensure the peace, we must remain strong abroad. To ensure
prosperity, we must remain strong at home.
Today, drug abuse imperils us both within and outside our
borders. It impairs what we are as a Nation, and as a family. It
limits all that we can become.
As a candidate for President, I pledged to complete this
mission: cleansing America of the scourge of drugs. It would take
money, I said, and the will and spirit of the American people.
But as Americans, nothing lies beyond our reach.
Two months ago, I nominated to the newly-created position of
Drug Czar a man who embodies that belief.
Over the years, William Bennett has urged that America be
true to its history, and to its highest ideals.
As Secretary of Education, he became an apostle of
excellence. And as a scholar and educator, he knows that for 200
years, we Americans have sought to fashion what Wiliam Bradford,
writing the 17th-Century history of the Plymouth Colony, referred
to as "answerable courages.
"It was granted the dangers were great, the difficulties
were many, " Bradford said of the Pilgrims, "but all of them
through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either
be borne or overcome. "
This quality of courage--of confronting, and overcoming, our
challenges-- has graced every landmark moment of the American
Story. And so it will, today.
For American history is not passive. It is ongoing; it
lives; it must be constantly renewed. We must act to preserve it,
and to celebrate its values. Let us, then, begin--let us
act--against drugs.
My friends, we will need "answerable courages" to combat
this heinous terror. For drug abuse assaults the mind of
America in damaged lives and careers destroyed. Drug abuse
assails the heart of America- in 1987, nearly 5,000 deaths in
all And, yes, the truth is unavoidable: Our funds are finite. We
have reached the limits of what government alone can do.
But government can act, and will. For those who sell drugs
mock our history. And those who use drugs find American
Nightmare, not American Dream.
This Bill Bennett knows, for he has said, as I have: Let's
wipe drugs off the face of America. And let's make that face
self-reliant, self-disciplined, and imbued with life--alive with
the will to win. And by accepting this position, he vows, as I
do, to stem drugs' crippling injury.
How? By mobilizing our resources--fiscal, moral, and
economic and by waging unconditional war.
Over 23 million Americans used illegal drugs last year. But more
200 million Americans didn't use them, and do not wish to. That
means we must halt those who produce, buy, and traffick drugs:
Not merely to clean up their act, but to protect those already
clean. And that means a war on every front: education, treatment,
interdiction, and enforcement.
Last month, before a joint session of Congress, I outlined
these fronts. And I asked for an increase of $1 billion--to
nearly $6 billion in 1990--to escalate our war.
Some money will be used to expand treatment to the poor, and
to young mothers. This will help many of the innocent victims of
drugs--like the thousands of babies born addicted, or with AIDS,
because of the mother's addiction.
Some will be used to cut the waiting time for treatment, and
to help urban schools where the emergency is greatest. And much
of it will be used to protect our borders, helped by the Customs
Service, the Departments of State and Justice, and the U.S.>
Military.
To spread the word, and, thus, to stem demand, we will need
more money for education our request totals $1.1 billion. We
need to educate, and involve, parents, teachers, communities,
ourselves. And we need to teach our children, from kindergarten
to college, about the appalling cost of drugs. "Zero Tolerance"
is not a catchword. It is an attitude, a pilgrimage, and must
become a way of life.
Finally, to crush drug criminals, we will
support unequivocally our drug enforcement officials: local,
State, and Federal.
Our budget proposes more than $4.1 billion to stop suppliers
by providing grants to State and local law enforcement. It asks
for tougher prosecutions, a new crusade against organized crime,
and enhanced drug prosecution, detention, and intelligence
capabilities. And it demands enforcement of tougher sentences my
friends, that means the death penalty. For ours is a Nation of
laws; I intend to enforce them. It's time we cared more about the
victims of crime--and less about its champions.
Funds and programs, yes. But our greatest resource is
personal, not financial: You, as individuals, and as Americans.
Without the people, we can do nothing; with the people, we
can do everything. So, this morning, I ask you to work together,
and to work with business, churches, families, schools. Only
united, can we vanquish drugs, and unite the American community.
Bill Bennett is a man who has never failed to complete his
mission, and who does not intend to fail today. He knows what
works, what doesn't, and has a stunning record of achievement.
Bill Bennett will be a Drug Czar who informs, and delivers.
He is a man who will help make us proud to be Americans, and help
make America proud.
Carl Sandburg wrote, "The Republic is a dream. Nothing
happens unless first a dream." Our dream is a drug-free America.
Together, let us make that dream, reality.
Thank you for inviting me, God bless you all, and God bless
the United States of America.